Play Strands #950
The same letter grid NYT shows. Drag across touching letters, or tap them one by one and tap the last letter again to check. Theme words turn blue and the spangram turns yellow. Hint outlines one word you haven't found. Nothing is saved, so your real game stays untouched.
Strands #950 hints
Today's official theme is "That can't be right". If that alone doesn't help, work down the hints below.
Hints used: 0
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What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Look for words that mean silly, worthless talk that you would never take seriously, the kind of thing you might scoff at.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 5 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
Think of a single long word describing something so far-fetched that you simply can't accept it as true, and look for it stretching across the board.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: B, D, H, N, R.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 12 letters and runs from bottom to top.
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Strands #950 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 12 letters
- Longest theme word
- 10 letters
Strands #950 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for October 9, 2026.
Reveal one word at a time
Only want a foothold? Open one word, find it on the board, then go back and try for the rest. Shorter words come first because they give away the least.
Theme word 1 (5 letters)
HOOEY. It starts in row 3, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (6 letters)
DRIVEL. It starts in row 7, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (7 letters)
RUBBISH. It starts in row 3, column 4, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (8 letters)
NONSENSE. It starts in row 6, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (10 letters)
BALDERDASH. It starts in row 6, column 5, counting from the top left.
The spangram (12 letters)
UNBELIEVABLE. It starts in row 8, column 3, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: UNBELIEVABLE
Theme words: BALDERDASH, DRIVEL, HOOEY, NONSENSE, RUBBISH
When someone says 'That can't be right,' they are reacting to a claim that seems false, which is exactly what the answers describe: BALDERDASH, DRIVEL, HOOEY, NONSENSE, and RUBBISH are all words for foolish or untrue talk. The spangram UNBELIEVABLE sums up the reaction itself, since it names how you feel when you hear such things.
What does HOOEY mean?
An informal, old-fashioned American slang word for nonsense or foolish talk. People use it to dismiss a claim they think is untrue or silly, which matches the puzzle's 'that can't be right' theme.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 8 | #949 | A star is born |
| Oct 7 | #948 | Color for the cure |
| Oct 6 | #947 | Changing course |
| Oct 5 | #946 | Oh well, too bad, such a shame |
| Oct 4 | #945 | Grab your tokens |
| Oct 3 | #944 | A figment of your imagination |
| Oct 2 | #943 | On the sly ... |
About Strands
Strands is a daily New York Times word search with a theme. Every letter on the six-by-eight board belongs to an answer, and one answer, the spangram, names the theme and stretches between opposite sides of the board. Past puzzles are a good way to learn how the themed clues are usually worded.
Other puzzles on Oct 9
Strands #950 questions
What was the Strands spangram on October 9, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #950 was UNBELIEVABLE, for the theme "That can't be right".
What were the Strands theme words on October 9, 2026?
BALDERDASH, DRIVEL, HOOEY, NONSENSE, RUBBISH, plus the spangram UNBELIEVABLE.
What did the Strands #950 clue mean?
When someone says 'That can't be right,' they are reacting to a claim that seems false, which is exactly what the answers describe: BALDERDASH, DRIVEL, HOOEY, NONSENSE, and RUBBISH are all words for foolish or untrue talk. The spangram UNBELIEVABLE sums up the reaction itself, since it names how you feel when you hear such things.